Oregon's ranking climbed from sixth-highest in
December. Some economists expect the state's rate for
February to hit double digits when that report comes out
Monday.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday that
49 states and the District of Columbia registered seasonally
adjusted unemployment-rate increases in January. The
national unemployment rate rose from 7.2 percent in December
to 7.6 percent in January -- 2.7 percentage points higher
than a year earlier.

In January, the West and Midwest again posted the highest
regional jobless rates, at 8.7 percent and 8.1 percent,
respectively. The Northeast recorded the lowest rate, at 7.1
percent.

Wyoming registered the lowest unemployment rate, 3.7
percent.

-- Richard Read

State's home foreclosure

rate ranks ninth in nation Oregon ranked ninth nationally in
its rate of home foreclosures in February, according to data
released Thursday by RealtyTrac.

The number of foreclosure filings in the state fell by 20
percent, dropping to about one for every 446 Oregon
households. That figure decreased Oregon's rate of
foreclosure by about 2.5 percent from the previous month,
when the state ranked fifth for its rate of home
foreclosures.

The three counties with the highest foreclosure rates in
Oregon were Deschutes, Josephine and Jackson. Multnomah
County ranked 12th, with one for every 501 households.

Nationwide, foreclosure filings for February were 290,631,
an increase of nearly 6 percent from the previous month and
up nearly 30 percent from February 2008. On average, the
rate of foreclosure was one in every 440 U.S. housing units.

RealtyTrac Inc., a California firm that lists foreclosed properties, tracks public filings during the foreclosure process, including default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions. Some properties might have received more than one notice if the owners have multiple mortgages....

Oregon's ranking climbed from sixth-highest in
December. Some economists expect the state's rate for
February to hit double digits when that report comes out
Monday.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday that
49 states and the District of Columbia registered seasonally
adjusted unemployment-rate increases in January. The
national unemployment rate rose from 7.2 percent in December
to 7.6 percent in January -- 2.7 percentage points higher
than a year earlier.

In January, the West and Midwest again posted the highest
regional jobless rates, at 8.7 percent and 8.1 percent,
respectively. The Northeast recorded the lowest rate, at 7.1
percent.

Wyoming registered the lowest unemployment rate, 3.7
percent.

-- Richard Read

State's home foreclosure

rate ranks ninth in nation Oregon ranked ninth nationally in
its rate of home foreclosures in February, according to data
released Thursday by RealtyTrac.

The number of foreclosure filings in the state fell by 20
percent, dropping to about one for every 446 Oregon
households. That figure decreased Oregon's rate of
foreclosure by about 2.5 percent from the previous month,
when the state ranked fifth for its rate of home
foreclosures.

The three counties with the highest foreclosure rates in
Oregon were Deschutes, Josephine and Jackson. Multnomah
County ranked 12th, with one for every 501 households.

Nationwide, foreclosure filings for February were 290,631,
an increase of nearly 6 percent from the previous month and
up nearly 30 percent from February 2008. On average, the
rate of foreclosure was one in every 440 U.S. housing units.

RealtyTrac Inc., a California firm that lists foreclosed properties, tracks public filings during the foreclosure process, including default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions. Some properties might have received more than one notice if the owners have multiple mortgages....